Scandal, Love, and Redemption

ver by a paramedic who cleaned and bandaged the small cut on my arm, but my mind was elsewhere. I kept replaying the mome

ard about the accident on the news and rushed over

are you okay? I

d, letting him hold me.

his eyes scanning me for inj

temple now. He finished his conversation and walked over to us. His eyes met mine over E

kay, Chloe," he sa

I said sincerely.

titude and awkwardness. "Liam. Thank you. I don't kn

same," Liam said, though his

e who was supposed to protect me, to comfort me. But it was Liam who had saved me. It was Liam's ar

insisting I lie down. He was being wonderful, but I felt a str

he doorbell rang. I opened it to find Liam standing there. He looked

ome in?"

tepped aside. "What

g around at the boxes I had started to pack for my move into E

ded. "Ethan is taking good care of me." I emphas

urning to face me.

you talk

er what happened today... doesn't it make you think? Life is too short

had eight years, Liam! Eight years to say something, to do something. But you didn't. You chose to be my brot

at for the rest of my life. I was a coward. I was hiding behind my promis

pped. "What

sper, but it filled the entire room. "I think I have

so long were finally being said. But they were too late. They were tang

oice shaking. "You can't come her

's not fair is you marrying a man you don't

, though the words felt w

s eyes pleading with me. "No

cking away. "You ne

e, pl

the tears finally fa

e of pain and determination. Then, he nodded slowly

It was the right thing to do. It had to be. But my heart was

at the door. I thought it was Liam, coming back. My heart leap

quet of white roses, and behind him, a group of our friends

ened today, I realized I don't want to wait another minute. I want you to b

n, my kind, sweet Ethan, was proposing all over again, a public declaration of his love. Everyone was watching me, smiling, waiting for me to say yes. Liam was watching me t